[Lindy]

Hi everyone - do you remember that Lioness I was trying to carve in butternut, the one where I had cut the blank with the grain running the wrong direction. Well let me tell you she put up just a terrible fight. I ended up bleeding several times, she ended up with broken limbs, tail, ear and just as I thought I had finally got her done - what does she do while receiving her second coat of natural stain? Throws her tail straight across the room, and here I thought only gophers could pull that one off. Well being the tenacious (aka stubborn) creature I am I glued that tail right back on - after all we had gotten this far. I had come to admit however that she was not going to end up being a Christmas gift for my younger brother after all, but still I made her a really nice stand, varathaned it and glued her in place. You would think that would honour a king such as she - but no - she had to throw herself off the stand and break a leg again. Since I knew she making a "break" for I grabbed her and told since she thought so little of that body of her's I'ld just chop it off and turn her into a trophy mounted head. So here at long last, many cuts, knicks, strong language and threats I wish to present you with "The One That Tried To Get Away".

Thank you for listening to my long, and perhaps, shall we say frustrated saga. I can promise I will always pay attention to the direction of grain from now on.

[Hugh]

How to go Lindy, where there is a will there is a way. Some wood is has more grain than others. Smaller trees, wood cut from the heart of a tree. It is best to use sap wood, the wood from the outer part of the tree. You have the patience, what are you going to carve now??

[squbrigg]

Good recover! Sounds like a tough battle, but a good lesson learned. Remember....in carving, " It's not the destination that is prized most, but the journey!" Sounds like you had an interesting journey!

Bob

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

ha ha.... you will remember that the rest of your years LOL

[spurg]

Linda there is more than one way to skin a cat. good job

[MelNM]

Looks like you got the lion by the tail, way to recover

[jamesfa]

Lindy-i'm glad you persisted and were able to keep part of the beast,now she can be a reminder that all is not lost if you persist.

good job.

Frank

[GeorgiaCarver]

That is a great story and lesson that I am sure you will remember. Nice recovery with the carving.

[Lindy]

Thanks everyone - she came very close to going into the wood stove. I'm going to enjoy giving her to my brother for Christmas and when he asks where is the rest of it I'll enjoy handing him the pieces. He's only been after me for 2 years to carve him a big cat. Of course I'm not going to get away with this being "the one" but at least it's a start and I'll do him a proper one later.

Hugh, I'm working on an otter that is laying on its back swimming. I'm trying it in bark. The pattern is a Desiree Hanjay (sp?) and I've tried it before and had problems, but there's that stubborn streak showing up again and since I really enjoyed carving the cougar head in the bark I figure this might work too. If it does the grain in the bark will make nice looking water movement, I hope.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Sounds like you are "barking" up the right tree LOL........you know the expert in bark carving around here is Art Olver right?